Video: Gifts of Christmas Past

The reality of making a “man on the street” video like the one above is that 19 out of 20 people literally flee from you before you can finish your introductory sentence, which they assume is “hey, how do you fancy a solid kick in the crotch?”

On the bright side, the precious few who didn’t treat me like I had airborne syphilis were wonderful, warm and willing to take me on a brief journey into their personal Christmas past.

For show me a man, and I will show you a boy who once upon a time loved a piece of plastic so passionately that the love story in The Notebook pales in comparison.

I’m a big believer that most of the magic is in the wanting. The fierce, physically painful wanting. My own resume contains hours upon hours of laying on a green shag carpet, staring at the Sears catalogue with the highest level of commitment I could possibly summon. I believed that if I visually ingested as much of the toy as possible, I could make it tangible. Like a digital 3d printer or something.

As a kid, we don’t have much control over what we get, which makes what we do get seem like a bloody miracle. It was a joy to watch peoples’ faces light up as they remembered that one present that left a lasting impression.

What was the best gift YOU ever received?

Oh, and in case you were wondering, I kicked these people in the crotch after their interviews.

Reb Stevenson is a firm believer that life doesn't have to suck.
She's a writer and videomonger who enjoys cooking, travelling, long distance walking and brevity when it comes to these bios. Nothing ... read moremakes her quite so happy as a montage in an '80s movie.
Do not attempt to discuss the weather with her.View author's profile